Radiator-valve



J. A. SOOLLAY.

(No Model.)

RADIATOR VALVE.

No. 313,892. Patented Mar. 17, 1885.

I N V E N TOR By 71 is Jltl'ol'nm x,

WITNESSES:

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. SGOLLAY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

RADIATO R-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,892, dated March 17, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. SOOLLAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Radiator- Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of radiator-valves designed to permit air to pass out or in, but to prevent the escape of steam or of water, either hot or cold.

My invention consists of a valve actuated by an expansible float-that is to say, a float which acts to close the valve-apertures both by flotation and expansion.

My valve will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section midway of the same; Fig. 2, a horizontal section or sectional plan on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, the casing only being in section. Fig. 3 shows the valve seated by expansion, and Fig. 4 shows it seated by flotation.

I may make the float chamber or casing in any convenient way; but I will describe it as herein shown.

A. is a cylindrical chamber, provided with screw-cover, B, and a screw-threaded inlet connection, 0, whereby the casing is secured to the radiator. In the cover B is screwed a tube, D, the lower end of which forms the valve-seat a.

E is an ornamental cap which screws onto the cover 13, as shown, and has air-passages b b in its sides. This cap is only for ornament, and might be omitted.

G is an expansible float,which is preferably made in cylindrical form, and which has thin corrugated heads 0 aud o. These heads are designed to perform the functions of diaphragms, and may be constructed in any way that will serve this purpose. I usually make them of thin flexible metal, and corrugate them concentrically or spirally, like the diaphragm of an aneroid barometer. On the upper head, 0, I mount the valve d, and this I provide with a suitable guide-stem, e, which extends up into the outlet-tube D. The lower head, 0, rests on a slight elevation, g, in the bottom of the chamber, which prevents the float when at rest, as in Fig. 1, from closing the inlets h h. The construction of thevalveseat on the lower end of tube D enables me to adjust it up or down to suit the expansibility of the float. By setting the valve-seat low down it is obvious that the valve will not have to rise so high to close it. The float may contain only air, or it may contain some gas that will expand readily by heat; but I prefer to place in it a small quantity of some easilyvaporized fluid, ias ether, for examplewhich will not add materially to the weight of the float, but which on the application of heat will vaporize and exert a pressure in the float that will drive out the heads a c and force the valve (1 up to its seat a.

I will now explain the operation of the device. When the steam is turned onto the radiator, it drives the air out through the valve; but when the steam enters chamber A the float is heated, the fluid in it is expanded, and the valve (2 forced up to its seat. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 3. If water shall have condensed in the pipes, and the steam tends to force it through the valve, the water will raise the float and close the valve-aperture. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 4. If the'water should be hot, the float will act by a combination of the forces of flotation and expansion. I thus combine in one float the advantages to be gained from expansion and flotation.

It is not absolutely necessary to construct both heads of the float in the form of diaphragms. One would serve, but I prefer two, as I am enabled thus to get more movement with the same expansion of the diaphragm. I do not limit myself to two diaphragms.

In order to construct a valve that will close the valve-orifice tightly, and yet will have no tendency to stick, I prefer to give the valve a slightly-spherical form and to give the valveseat the form shown-that is to say, make the valve-orifice cylindrical. The valve then only touches the seat in a narrow line, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The float might be guided at its sides or bottom, and the stem 0 be omitted.

I will say that valves have been closed by the force of expansion and also by floats. These are common, and I do not claim them.

I employ a valve actuated by both of these forces, the float being expansible.

I do not limit myself to an adjustable valveseat.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A radiator-Valve constructed substantially as herein described, and adapted to be seated byboth expansion and flotation through 10 the medium of an expansible float, as set forth.

2. In a radiator-valve, the combination, with a float-chamber and valve-seat, of a float bearing a valve, and capable of being expanded by heat, whereby the valve is seated both by ex- I 5 pansion and flotation,substantially as set forth.

3. In a radiator-valve, the combination, with a float-chamber and valve-seat, of a float having diaphragm-heads 0 and c, and provided with a valve, 6;, adapted to be seated by the expansion of the gas or fluid within the float, substantially as herein set forth.

4. The combination, with the float-chamber, of the screw-threaded tube D, bearing the valve-seat, and the float G,having a diaphragmhead and bearing the valve d, all arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY CONNETT, ARTHUR G. FRASER. 

